Rich vein of material for union ad campaign

Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott visits Presentation College in Melbourne on Thursday to address students on International Women’s Day.
Photo: AAP

by
Pip Freebairn | Natalie Gerritsen

One of the country’s most powerful unions has launched a satirical campaign aimed directly at the country’s wealthy and Opposition Leader
Tony Abbott
.

The mining arm of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy union has teamed up with Chaser co-founder Charles Firth to launch a television advertising campaign called “Fair Go for Billionaires", mocking the anti-mining-tax stance of Mr Abbott and mining magnates’ anti-mining-tax stance.

CFMEU mining national president
Tony Maher
said: “In recent years mining billionaires have somehow decided they are capable of convincing Australians that their self- interest is aligned with the national interest."

The union, which represents coal workers, has been in prolonged ­dispute with BHP Billiton in Queensland.

“When Gina Rinehart talks about serving the national interest through setting up ‘special economic zones’, in which guest labourers from overseas can work for below minimum wage, it’s tough to see how she manages to keep a straight face," he said.

But Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia chief
Reg Howard-Smith
said people like
Andrew Forrest
should be praised for creating wealth and jobs, rather than criticised and targeted by the tall poppy syndrome.

“Andrew started Fortescue Metals in a room in his house with a handful of other aspirational people and he’s now grown that to be an international company employing many people."

Mr Howard-Smith said while Treasurer
Wayne Swan
might be trying to appeal to Labor’s blue collar base with his comments, that would backfire in WA.